1987 PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION
National
Territory
 ARTICLE I
NATIONAL TERRITORY
The national territory comprises the Philippine
archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced
therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines
has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial,
fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the
seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other
submarine areas. The waters around, between, and
connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of
their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal
waters of the Philippines.
Principles and
State Policies
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican
State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government
authority emanates from them.
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of
national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles
of international law as part of the law of the land and
adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom,
cooperation, and amity with all nations.
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the
military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector
of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the
sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national
territory.
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and
protect the people. The Government may call upon the
people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof,
all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by
law, to render personal, military or civil service.
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the
protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of
the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all
the people of the blessings of democracy.
 ARTICLE II
PRINCIPLES
Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be
inviolable.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 7. The State shall pursue an independent foreign
policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount
consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, national interest, and the right to self-
determination.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 8. The Philippines, consistent with the national
interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from
nuclear weapons in its territory.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 9. The State shall promote a just and dynamic social
order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of
the nation and free the people from poverty through
policies that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved
quality of life for all.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 10. The State shall promote social justice in all
phases of national development.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human
person and guarantees full respect for human rights.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life
and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life
of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.
The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the
rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the
development of moral character shall receive the support
of the Government.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation-building and shall promote and protect their
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism,
and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in
nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality
before the law of women and men.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of
the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord
with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 17. The State shall give priority to education,
science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and
promote total human liberation and development.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and
promote their welfare.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 19. The State shall develop a self-reliant and
independent national economy effectively controlled by
Filipinos.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 20. The State recognizes the indispensable role of
the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed investments.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 21. The State shall promote comprehensive rural
development and agrarian reform.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of
indigenous cultural communities within the framework of
national unity and development.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 23. The State shall encourage non-governmental,
community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote
the welfare of the nation.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 24. The State recognizes the vital role of
communication and information in nation-building.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 25. The State shall ensure the autonomy of local
governments.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 26. The State shall guarantee equal access to
opportunities for public service and prohibit political
dynasties as may be defined by law.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in
the public service and take positive and effective measures
against graft and corruption.
 ARTICLE II
STATE POLICIES
Section 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by
law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public
disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.
Bill of Rights
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law, nor shall any person
be denied the equal protection of the laws.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable
searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or
warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to
be determined personally by the judge after examination
under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the
witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the
place to be searched and the persons or things to be
seized.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 3.
• The privacy of communication and correspondence shall
be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or
when public safety or order requires otherwise, as
prescribed by law.
• Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the
preceding section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in
any proceeding.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of
speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble and petition the
government for redress of grievances.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious
profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall
be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same
within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired
except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right
to travel be impaired except in the interest of national
security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided
by law.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 7. The right of the people to information on matters
of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official
records, and to documents and papers pertaining to
official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to
government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such
limitations as may be provided by law.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 8. The right of the people, including those
employed in the public and private sectors, to form unions,
associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law
shall not be abridged.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts
shall be passed.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial
bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied
to any person by reason of poverty.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 12.
• Any person under investigation for the commission of an
offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to remain
silent and to have competent and independent counsel
preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford the
services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These rights
cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of
counsel.
• No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other
means which vitiate the free will shall be used against him.
Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other
similar forms of detention are prohibited.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 12.
• Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this or
Section 17 hereof shall be inadmissible in evidence against
him.
• The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for
violations of this Section as well as compensation to the
rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices, and
their families.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 13. All persons, except those charged with offenses
punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is
strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient
sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be
provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired
even when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is
suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 14.
• No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense
without due process of law.
• In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed
innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right
to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a
speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face
to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the
attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his
behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may proceed
notwithstanding the absence of the accused: Provided, that
he has been duly notified and his failure to appear is
unjustifiable.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall
not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion,
when the public safety requires it.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness
against himself.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 18.
• No person shall be detained solely by reason of his
political beliefs and aspirations.
• No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a
punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 19.
• Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading
or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall death
penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons
involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides
for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be
reduced to reclusion perpetua.
• The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading
punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of
substandard or inadequate penal facilities under
subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-
payment of a poll tax.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of
punishment for the same offense. If an act is punished by a
law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either
shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same
act.
 ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be
enacted.